Kosher certification inspectors of the Chief Rabbinate will receive significant
new powers, according to a bill proposed Monday by Deputy Religious Affairs
Minister Rabbi Eli Ben-Dahan, with the support of Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi David
Lau.

The legislation is intended to prevent defrauding and misleading the
public about what is kosher. The bill has the support of the government, which
is expected to enable its passage.

“The rabbinate has had a department to
enforce kosher certification regulations for 14 years but the department’s
authority has never been set,” the bill states.

The bill would give
kosher certification inspectors the right to enter restaurants, and other
establishments that provide food, and remove kosher certification notices that
have expired.

They would be authorized to probe restaurant owners like
police and even confiscate items connected to their offense.

Like police,
the kosher inspectors would wear uniforms while on duty, and they would be
required to wear badges identifying them.

Ben-Dahan said the bill was
necessary to end kosher certification fraud and return credibility to dietary
supervision.

“Until now, due to their lack of authority, the inspectors
have been too weak to confront the unkosher criminals, who have been able to
avoid punishment,” Ben-Dahan said. “This bill would give them the tools to fight
them effectively.”

Sites Of Interest

The Jerusalem Post Customer Service Center can be contacted with any questions or requests:
Telephone: *2421 * Extension 4 Jerusalem Post or 03-7619056 Fax: 03-5613699E-mail: [email protected]
The center is staffed and provides answers on Sundays through Thursdays between 07:00 and 14:00 and Fridays only handles distribution requests between 7:00 and
13:00
For international customers: The center is staffed and provides answers on Sundays through Thursdays between 7AM and 6PM
Toll Free number in Israel only 1-800-574-574
Telephone +972-3-761-9056
Fax: 972-3-561-3699
E-mail: [email protected]